June 30, 2021 To Whom it May…

June 30, 2021

To Whom it May Concern,

I am responding to this proposal because I am a close neighbour to the proposed dumping site. I am an Environmental Microbiologist, and thus I am well versed in this area.

First of all, the soil in our area is predominantly sand, there is often very little topsoil to prevent quick infiltration into the soils below. The soil is very porous, and it is very difficult and touchy to even spread composted manure on.

I have done two Environmental Farm Plans over the last 25 years, and one of our major issues from these plans for our farm, was to ensure that only composted manure can be spread onto the soil at appropriate times of the year. Fresh manure is very discouraged. Therefore, how can fresh sewage waste with unknown contents including pathogens be safe? Some grease and other wastes will be present, as households legally must connect their gray water to their septic systems along with their sewage waters.

If any of the sewage was to get into the water table, it could easily and quickly get into the many neighbourhood wells, and since many people here still rely on older, shallow dug wells, the scenario would not be very positive. People could easily get sick and the situation long term, would cost a lot of money and take a long time to remediate. If it got lower into the water table, it would then contaminate the deeper wells and could travel longer distances and cause contamination and the same situation just mentioned previously.

The property also has a somewhat sloping topography. This is not very conducive for the spreading of raw sewage. It is a drainage and flood plain. A municipal drain also begins on this property that hooks up into the local municipal drain system. This is not a very safe scenario, as it could cause significant damage to the natural environment, (flora and fauna, algae blooms just to name a few), as well as odour and an unclean and unsightly overall impact and picture.

Even if application rates are followed, there will still be an odour impact to the neighbourhood, especially to the immediate neighbours whose property boundaries are directly beside or across from the proposed site. Those neighbours are extremely upset by this proposal and are considering putting their properties up for sale. Is it fair to them to have to sell their property and to someone else who may or may not know the possible future situation? Their properties will be devalued. Weather depending, many other neighbours will also be exposed to inappropriate odours, which can in fact cause illness for those with health issues or sensitivities. Myself, being one of these sensitive people, I know many odours can set me off into headaches, malaise and fatigue.

Finally, spread septic waste is a very unsightly situation for the neighbours to have to see every day. Many things end up in septic tanks, and these things also cause environmental damage to the flora and fauna in the environment. It's like intentional littering on the land.

Septic tank contents are easily disposed of by the proposed company, (Dwayne Wilson – The Stool Bus), at sewage treatment facilities in London, Ontario. This is a much safer way of handling sewage disposal where it gets processed appropriately before any effluent is released into the environment.

Thank you very much for reading my submission to this proposal.